Programmatic Access to Instruments Database

[NtFan]

I'm running NinjaTrader version 8.0.21.1 64-bit, and I'd like to programmatically read-from and write-to my local instrument database. I'd like to know if it's possible to do this, either internally to NT8 using NinjaScript, or externally to NT8 using Python/C#/VBA? If it is possible, then I'd appreciate any guidance you might provide for how to do it. Thank you.

[NinjaTrader_Jesse]

Hello NtFan,

That really depends on what your local database format is, NinjaScript is just C# programming language so you could use any C# means to interface with external data. You can also reference libraries if needed in case you are using a database or something that requires an actual library to use.

I would suggest to first review what you need to access the data and then search online for C# examples for that. For example if your database was a csv file you could search for "C# read csv file" to get some examples which would apply in NinjaScript.

I look forward to being of further assistance.

[NtFan]

Hi Jesse,

The "local database" that I want to read-from and write-to is the NinjaTrader instrument database that is installed on my local computer. With regard to this database, here are two things I'd like to do:

1a. Using NinjaScript, I'd like to read from it to check if an instrument having a specific name (i.e. ticker) exists; and
1b. Ditto, but using Python/C#/VBA.

And, here are two more things I'd like to do:

2a. Using NinjaScript, I'd like to write to it to add an instrument that doesn't exist; and
2b. Ditto, but using Python/C#/VBA.

Are any/all of these four things possible? If yes, then I'd appreciate any guidance you might provide regarding how to do them.

Thank you,

NtFan

[NinjaTrader_Jesse]

Hello NtFan,

There is no suggestion I can make for accessing the NT databases directly, you could look up an instrument in NinjaScript using the method to do that but I could not advise for any external use case outside of NinjaScript. In general the database files and other data files NinjaTrader stores are not accessible from outside the platform.

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/getinstrument.htm?zoom_highlightsub=instrument.get

Creating instruments from NinjaScript is also very limited, technically you can try to Instrument.GetInstrument("name", true) and it will add a default stock type instrument but there is no supported way to modify/add instruments in the database through code. It is only suggested to manually define instruments so that you can ensure the configuration is correct before you try to use it.


I look forward to being of further assistance.